Kemp Clashes With Ex-Klansman in N.H.

The opening day of filing for New Hampshire’s leadoff presidential primary saw a noisy spat between Republican Jack Kemp and fringe candidate David E. Duke, a former Ku Klux Klan official.

Kemp, a New York congressman, was the first major candidate to give the secretary of state $1,000 and sign a declaration of candidacy on Friday. Candidates have until Dec. 18 to file for the Feb. 16 primary.

Filing as Democrats on the first day were Anthony Martin-Trigona of Middletown, Conn., and Duke, a New Orleans resident who heads the National Assn. for the Advancement of White People.

Duke approached Kemp after the congressman held a news conference and asked what he would do “to end the massive racial discrimination against white people in America.”

After Kemp said he was not a racist and did not appreciate the question, the two began shouting.

“When are you going to end affirmative action, which is a racial program of discrimination against white people?” Duke asked.

“I believe in equal opportunity for every man and every woman irrespective of color, race, creed or religion,” Kemp shouted back.